Window platform and support



O 1957' SHOZABURO OTANI wmoow PLATFORM AND SUPPORT Filed Sept. 23, 1953Nov. 26, 1957 SHOZABURO [OT/AN! WINDOW PLATFORM AND SUPPORT SSheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 25. 1953 WINDOW PLATED AND SUPPORT Shozaburo()tani, Chicago, Ill. Application September 23, 1953, Serial No. 381,825

2 Claims. (Cl. 304-24) The present invention relates to and comprehendsa novel window platform and support adapted to be readily and easilymounted upon the sill of a window opening for safely supporting a windowwasher or other workman in standing or sitting position at the exteriorof the window.

Although various types of scaffolds or supports have been devised formounting in a window opening and for use by a window washer or workmanat the exterior of a window, their use has been curtailed or restricted.Various reasons may be attributed for the failure of such scaffolds orsupports to reach commercial success, but among such reasons may beincluded the fact that they do not offer the positive assurance andprotection desired and neither are they so constructed and assemble-dthat they may be readily adjusted and adapted to be securely anchoredonto window sills of various contours and dimensions.

As any accident to the platform or scaifold or a loosening or breakageof a portion of the sill at the elevation at which such devices are usedwould be apt to catapult the workman to the street or ground below andgenerally result in a fatal accident, it is essential that any platformor support for the purpose intended must be rigidly anchored in positionand incapable of tilting movement when the weight of the workman and hisequipment are disposed on the platform at the exterior of the window.

The present invention obviates the objections of such prior devices inthat the weight of the workman or window washer and his equipment whensupported upon the present novel assembly at the exterior of thebuilding, exerts a downward force that maintains the assembly moresecurely in anchored position.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention toprovide a novel window platform and support that is readily adjustableto window frames and sills of varying sizes and contours and is securelyretained in a substantially horizontal position at all times on thesill.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a novelwindow platform and support and to a novel means and manner of anchoringthe assembly upon the window sill.

A further and important object of the present invention is the provisionin a window platform or support of the type disclosed which overhangsthe exterior of the sill, with a novel construction of outwardly anddownwardly projecting legs or anchoring members at the exterior of thesill which positively anchor the supporting frame to the sill and permitthe workman complete freedom of movement and maximum security at theexterior of the building.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novelassembly adapted to sustain the weight of a workman, together with histools or other equipment required when working at the exterior of thebuilding, and which assembly is provided with novel anchoring means atthe exterior and interior of the window sill so that it may be quicklyand conveniently applied. to

the sill without in any way marring the finish thereof.

Another and important object of the present invention is the provisionof a novel extensible platform and support whereby the window washer orworkman supported thereon may freely work at the exterior of the windowor window opening in either a standing or sitting position.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novelinterlocking and collapsible assembly that may be readily mounted andanchored in position and extended and opened for use, and readilyretracted and collapsed for removal and storage.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a novelplatform or support adapted to readily sustain the weight of a workmanor Window washer and his equipment, and which weight sustained at theexterior of the window results in a downward force that maintains theassembly most securely and without any tendency of tilting ordisengagement of the platform from the window sill upon which it ismounted.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity andease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages andcapabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherentlypossessed thereby.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the novel window platform andsupport mounted in fully extended, operative position upon the sill of awindow or other opening.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the open assembly of Fig. 1, theview being taken from the interior of the building.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the novel assembly of Fig. 1 withthe component parts retracted or collapsed and folded to inoperative orstoring position.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the novel assembly extended to openposition but with the seat broken away.

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical cross section taken in a plane representedby the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows, theback rest being shown partially extended and the seat cushion foldedback.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view in side elevation of a portion ofthe assembly of Fig. 5, and showing more clearly the outwardly anddownwardly inclined legs and anchoring members and the manner in whichthe anchoring members engage or anchor onto the exterior of the sill.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the assembly of Fig.6, as well as a view in vertical cross section taken in a planerepresented by the line 7-7 of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of thearrows.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in vertical cross section taken in a planerepresented by the line 8-8 of Fig. l and viewed in the direction of thearrows.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical cross section taken in a planerepresented by the line 9-9 of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of thearrows.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged view in side elevation of the innerend of the assembly of Figs. 1 and 3, parts being broken away for morecomplete disclosure.

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 6 andviewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view in horizontal cross section taken in a planerepresented by the line 12-12 of Fig. l and viewed in the direction ofthe arrows.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view in horizontal cross section taken in a planerepresented by the line 13-13 of Fig.

l and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view in horizontal cross section taken in a planerepresented by the line 14-14 of Fig. 1

and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical cross section taken ina plane represented by the line 15-15 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the folded links incollapsed position for storage as in Fig. 3.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the assembly of Fig..3 supported on an end.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings and to theembodiment therein selected to illustrate the present invention, thenovel window platform and support is adapted to be mounted upon the sillof a window frame or opening, the base support comprising a pair oflongitudinally extensible and retractable or collapsible frames 11 and12, the inner frame .11 in eluding spaced angle members 13 and 14 havingin turned flanges 15 and spaced transverse bars 16 and 17 bridging theseflanges. The opposite ends of the transverse bar 16 are rigidly securedat 18 to the underside of the inturned flanges 15 of the spaced anglemembers 13 and 14, while the opposite ends 19 of the transverse bar 17are freely slidable on the upper surface of the flanges 15 and retainedthereon by means of plates 20 mounted beneath the flanges 15 by anysuitable attaching means, such as bolts or the like. Also secured by theattaching means to the transverse bar 17 inwardly of its ends are theinner ends 21 of the inturned flanges 22 of a pair of spaced anglemembers 23 and 24 which extend inwardly of but in spaced, parallelrelation with the angle members 13 and 14.

These angle members 23 and 24 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) are associated with theinner frame 11 and are movable longitudinally of the angle members 13and 14 by means of their connection to the transverse bar 17 which islongitudinally adjustable on the angle members 13 and 14 through a screwor threaded rod 25. The outer threaded end 26 of the rod or screw isreceived in a threaded or tapped block or bracket 27 rigidly secured tothe underside of the transverse bar 17 and the inner or forward end ofthe rod is journalled in and projects through a bearing block 28 rigidlysecured to the underside of the fixed transverse bar 16. The endprojecting forwardly through the hearing or journal 28 is bent to form acrank arm 29 having a handle 30 pivotally connected at 31 to thebifurcated end of the crank arm whereby the handle may be moved from thefull line position of Fig. 4to the dotted line position there shown. Acotter pin or the like 32 prevents the threaded rod 25 from beingunscrewed from the block or bracket 27.

To each of the angle members 23 and 24 intennediate their length isanchored at 33 a substantially Z-shaped stirrup 34 with one end 35partially encompassing and supporting the projected outer or free end 36of the angle members 13 and 14, and the other end 37 turned or projectedinwardly to overlie an edge of the outer frame 12 (Fig. 8). The ends 36have their vertical flanges notched or narrowed to provide a shoulder orabutment at 38.

Also rigidly affixed by a strap or bracket 39 to each of the anglemembers 23 and 24 is the upper end of a downwardly and outwardlyprojected leg or projection 40 to the lower end of which is rotatablymounted a roller A preferably having rubber or composition tire whichwill not mar the surface finish of the sill or other surface over whichthese spaced rollers or wheels roll and over which the assembly may bemoved or transported. 'Each leg or projection 40 is preferably an anglemember detachably connected at its upper end by screws or attachingmeans to its bracket 39, and provided with a strap 41 partiallyencompassing the leg or projection 40 and rigidly carrying or formedintegral with the strap is an angle bracket 42, the inner surface ofwhich is covered by a resilient or flexible surface covering 43 and thehorizontal flange and its covering having pressure contact with theouter edgeorsurface of the sill 45 upon which.the.platform assembly. issupported. Each strap 41 and its bracket 42 are freely slidable upon aleg 40 and adjust themselves upon the leg to maintain the assembly inhorizontal position.

The outer frame 12 provides a stand or platform at the exterior of thewindow upon which the window washer or workman may stand or be seatedand comprises longitudinally extending spaced angle members 46 and 47the lower inturned flange 48 of each being slidably supported on theinturned flange 22 of the angle members 23 and 24, and spaced transversemetal straps or bars 49 preferably covered by a seat cushion 51 for theconvenience and comfort of the workman, particu larly when the workmanperforms his work in seating position. The cushion is anchored at itsouter end on a cross rod 50 (Fig. 12) and at its inner end is providedwith clips 52 (Fig. 15) for detachably anchoring this cushion inposition on the straps or bars 49, or these clips may be released andthe seat cushion folded back to the position shown in dotted outline inFig. 5 when the workman is in standing position.

At the outer end of the stand or platform is provided a transverse anglebar 53 to which is pivotally connected a back rest or vertical guard 54having spaced, upstand-.

ing and rigid angle members 55 each pivotally connected at its lower endby a bolt or pin 56 (Fig. 12) to an inturned flange 57 on the end of thetransverse bar 53 to permit the back rest or guard to fold inwardly overthe outer frame 12 of the stand or platform. The cross rod 50 for theseat cushion 51 is also pivotally mounted on the bolt or pin 56.

A complementary rigid angle member 58 rides in each angle member 55 toprovide an extensible frame whereby the back rest or vertical guard maybe readily adjusted to a desired height, including the fully extendedposition of Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the member 58 being guided in its movementby the inturned and overlapping ends 59 of a transverse bar or strap 61rigidly connected to and carried by the lower ends of the upper anglemembers 58, and a substantially U-shaped stirrup 62 rigidly connected toeach of the lower angle members 55 at its upper end and each stirrupencompassing and guiding an angle member 58 in its longitudinalmovement.

When the back rest or vertical guard 54 is moved to its maximum,elevated position, the overlapping ends 59 of the transverse bar 61 abutagainst the lower end of the stirrups 62. A set screw 63 carried by eachstirrup 62 and adapted to engage an upper angle member 58, retains theselatter members in retracted position, in fully elevated position or inany intermediate position. A cross brace or transverse bar 64 connectsthe upper end of the uprights or angle members 58 and this bar may becovered by a cushion 60 (Fig. 4) for the convenience and comfort of theworkman. The transverse bar 64 is preferably arranged slightly below theupper ends of the uprights 58 to permit the bale of a bucket or othercontainer or object to be anchored onto the extended ends. A chain 65(Figs. 1 and 2) having its opposite ends detachably connected to theupper ends of the upper members 58, provides a convenient method offurther sup porting the workman when standing.

Pivotally mounted and foldable links 66 and 67 of a brace are adapted toretain the guard in elevated upright position upon the pin or bolt aboutwhich the guard pivots to its upright or folded position. These links orarms 66 and 67 when in extended and aligned position (see Figs. 1 and 5)are retained in that position and prevented from moving over center by anotch 68 formed in the link or arm 67 and a laterally extending lip orprojection 69 on the arm or link 66 adapted to be received in the notch68 and limit the pivotal movement of the links or arms about theirconnecting pivot 71. The other end of each link or arm 66 is pivotallyconnected at 72 to its upright 58 and the other end of the link or arm67 is pivotally connected by a pin or the like 73 to the upper portionof an inverted U-shaped stirrup 74 5 (Figs. 2, 6 and 7) formed on theouter ends of a transverse bar 75 at the forward end of the frame 12.The downwardly opening channel of this stirrup 74 is adapted to rideover the upstanding flange on the angle members 23 and 24.

To anchor the platform assembly onto the window sill 45, the collapsedassembly as shown in Fig. 3 is lifted or placed on the window sill withthe rollers A travelling over the sill and the angle bracket 42 freelymovable on each outwardly and downwardly projecting leg 40 in positionto seat upon the outer edge of the window sill. Each angle bracket 42being readily slidable and vertically adjustable upon its leg 40, willautomatically adjust itself to the outer edge of the sill when thewheels or rollers A drop or slip over the outer edge of the sill 45. Theangle brackets 42 slide upwardly over the legs 40 and are clampedsecurely by the pressure of the legs and weight of the unit and that ofthe workman.

The inner end of the platform is then adjusted through manipulation ofthe handle 30 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) to dis pose the spaced depending legs76 at the front of the sill. These depending legs overlap at their upperends onto the flanges 15 and are rigidly connected at 18 to the anglemembers 13 and 14 and transverse bar 16, and each leg is provided withan inwardly opening channel member 77 adjustable vertically on its legand preferably having a covering 78 of rubber or other resilientmaterial adapted to receive a flange or overhang 79 on the interior ofthe sill 45. If the sill is devoid of such a flange or overhang, or ifthe flange is disposed below the position shown, the lower edge 80 ofthe channel member 77 may seat upon the inner edge of the sill and aroller or projection 81 carried on an adjustable set screw 32 may beemployed to retain the legs anchored onto the inner face of the sill.The roller and inner face of the depending legs '76 are also preferablycovered with rubber or other suitable resilient covering material 78 toavoid marring the surface against which it is placed.

By manipulating the handle 30, these legs 76 are drawn into contactingand anchoring relation with the interior of the sill 45 and thehorizontal flanges 44 on the brackets 42 which are freely slidable onthe legs 40 adjust themselves longitudinally of the legs to the contourand height of the exterior of the sill 45 whereby the corner of theflanges 44 sustains the weight of the assembly and bears firmly againstthe sill. When the platform assembly is adjusted to locked or anchoredposition, the extensible or adjustable outer frame 12 and the extensibleback rest or vertical guard 54 are extended or opened to their desiredoperative position and locked in that position by aligning the links 66and 67 and by adjustment and locking of the set screws 63. The workmanis then ready to perform his labor.

The outwardly and downwardly inclined legs or projections 46 not onlyanchor the unit assembly onto the sill, but automatically raise andlower the platform and assembly in a substantially horizontal plane. Theweight of the assembly and that of the workman is supported at the outeredge of the sill where the brackets 42 engage and at the front of theassembly where the legs 76 engage, whereby the base of the assembly isautomatically adjusted to and remains in a substantially horizontalplane and each bracket 42 at or adjacent the corner thereof sustains theweight of the unit thereat.

As the angle members or brackets 42 are freely slidable on the legs 44and as the sides or flanges of these brackets are arranged at an obtuseangle or more than 90, they readily engage the outer edge of the sill 45and are automatically adjusted on these legs to their proper height inwhich the frames 11 and 12 and the'base of the support for the workmanare rigidly anchored and held in a substantially horizontal plane. Theweight or downward force applied to these brackets or angle members 42causes them to be retained wedged on the outwardly and downwardlyinclined legs 40.

When the unit assembly is once adjusted to operative position upon thesill, it may be quickly removed without manipulating the handle 30 andadjusting screw 25 and without disturbing the adjustment of the legs 40and 76. This is accomplished by folding or collapsing the platform andby lifting the outer edge of the assembly. As the legs 40'project orincline outwardly and downwardly and the angular brackets 42 are freelyslidable thereon, these brackets may be easily and readily lifted fromthe outer edge of the sill 45. After removal the assembly may be set onthe floor or placed in the position shown in Fig. 17 for storage, andthe assembly may be replaced on the same or similar sill without furtheradjustment.

When the assembly is collapsed and retracted or telescoped toinoperative position as in Fig. 3, the assembly including the framemembers and the back rest or guard, fold into a substantially flat spaceand the complete assembly is retained in position for storage either ina substantially horizontal position as in Fig. 3, or in an uprightposition as in Fig. 17. When fully collapsed, the angle members 46 and47 slide or ride over the angle members 23 and 24 with the uprights orangle members 55 and 58 folded downwardly onto the angle members 13 and14. \In fully retracted position, the ends or inturned flanges 59 of thetransverse bar 61 ride over the notched portion of the members 13 and 14and abut against the shoulder 38 on the latter members, and the end 83of each link 67 abuts against the adjacent end of a stirrup 34.

To facilitate shipping, the rear legs 40 together with {their brackets42 and the forward legs 76 may be readily removed, the remainder forminga compact assembly which with the detached legs, may be packaged andshipped in a minimum of space.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A window platform adapted to be mounted and anchored upon a windowsill for supporting a workman at the exterior of a window opening,comprising telescopically and adjustably connected inner and outer framemembers adapted to be mounted on the sill in a horizontal plane, anextensible support slidably mounted on the outer of said frame membersfor supporting the workman in sitting or standing position at theexterior of the window, means on the inner of said frame members foranchoring said inner frame member onto the interior of the sill, spacedprojections extending downwardly and outwardly from the outer framemember and an angle bracket on each projection and free to slidelongitudinally thereof, said angle brackets opening inwardly and seatingupon the outer edge of the sill when the platform is moved outwardlyover the window sill toward operative position, said brackets whenengaging the outer edge of the Window sill riding upon their projectionsand Wedging thereon to hold the support and frame members of theplatform in substantially horizontal position when the anchoring meanson the inner frame member is adjusted to holding position.

2. Mechanism for supporting a workman at the exterior of a windowopening, said mechanism comprising a frame mounted upon the sill andincluding side rails and a cross member connecting the inner ends of theside rails and adapted to seat upon the inner edge of the sill, alaterally disposed bar bridging and having its ends slidably andadjustably connected to and slidable on said side rails, a second framemovable longitudinally of the first frame and having side rails arrangedparallel to and spaced inwardly of the side rails of the first framewith the forward end of the side rails of the latter connected to andcarried by the transverse bar, a stirrup carried by each side rail ofthe second frame for receiving the outer end of a side rail of the firstframe and permitting longitudinal adjustment of said frames relative toeach other while maintaining them in alignment, means on the first framefor anchoring it upon the inner edge of the sill, an outwardly anddownwardly projecting leg 7 '8 rigidly connected at its upper end toeach side rail of the References Cited in the file of this patent seeondframe, an angle member sliclably meunted and UNITED STATES PATENTSlongitudinally movable on each leg with the sides of said angle memberforming an obtuse angle, said angle mem- 5341636 f 261 1893 her beingadapted to seat upon and bear against the exte- 5 560544 Rabmowltz May1896 rior edge of the sill for anchoring the platform to the 65735111!Bulasky P 1900 exterior of the sill, and means for adjusting said frames702314 Boardman June 1902 transversely of the sill to move saidanchoring means into 35 Haas 1923 operative engagement with the sill,said angle members 1,553,725 UPham 1925 permitting ready removal of theplatform 'without dis- 10 1,721,179 Duket July 1929 2,285,901 ChenowethJune 9, 1942 turbing the adjustment of said frames.

